• Pasadena, California (billed as the Los Angeles auditions during the broadcast): Rose Bowl - August 6
  • San Antonio, Texas: Alamodome - August 11
  • East Rutherford, New Jersey/New York, New York (billed as the New York City auditions during the broadcast): the initial round was held in the Continental Airlines Arena - August 14, the subsequent televised audition rounds took place in Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.
  • Birmingham, Alabama: Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex - August 21
  • Memphis, Tennessee: FedEx Forum - September 3
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota: Target Center - September 8
  • Seattle, Washington: KeyArena - September 19

    • Auditioning contestants were required to be between the ages 16 and 28 on August 6, 2006 (born between August 7, 1977 and August 6, 1990).